2ο Εκπαιδευτικό Σεμινάριο-Ομιλητής: Πλαΐνης Σωτήρης (Πανεπιστήμιο Κρήτης)

Binocular summation: neurophysiological evidence and clinical applications

Vision with the two eyes is enhanced over what would be expected with just one eye and the result is better sensitivity. This phenomenon is called binocular summation and is be due to both probability summation and some physiological mechanism that further enhances binocular vision (neural summation). Recent research has shown that binocularity leads to improved space perception (as a result of stereoscopic vision), increased contrast sensitivity, better near visual acuity and more efficient reading, improved spatial performance under blur (benefit for myopes) and better fixation stability.

However, when binocularity is disrupted as happens in conditions of induced anisocoria (i.e. small-aperture monovision for presbyopia correction) the associated interocular differences in retinal illuminance may lead to spatial distortions (the Pulfrich effect) and perceptual hazards in practical situations such as driving. These differences are not reduced by adaptation because the natural pupil diameter of the dominant eye is continually changing throughout the day due to varying illumination and other factors, making adaptation difficult.